Stages 1 and 2 of the Test Bed focused on verifying the indoor performance of existing or commercially available 9-1-1 location technologies. Stage 3 will now focus on location technologies in a variety of production-ready stages. The availability of Stage 3 demonstrates the wireless industry and public safety community’s commitment to considering how new technologies can continue to enhance the capabilities of our nation’s 9-1-1 system. Stage 3 testing is on schedule to occur in the San Francisco and Atlanta regions later this year. All test results are confidential to the test participants, but participants are encouraged to share summary results with wireless industry and public safety stakeholders who can evaluate the performance of various technologies.

Consistent with the FCC’s 2015 Order on Indoor Wireless 9-1-1 Location Accuracy, CTIA established the Test Bed to independently and transparently evaluate the indoor performance of new and existing wireless 9-1-1 location information technologies. The FCC’s rules were based on the Roadmap to Improve 9-1-1 Location Accuracy adopted in 2014 by AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless as well as the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).

“Public safety is critically important to the wireless industry and consumers. We are working collaboratively with the public safety community to thoroughly evaluate new technologies under real-life conditions” said Test Bed LLC Vice President Tom Sawanobori. “We look forward to Stage 3 of the 9-1-1 location technology testing to support further innovation in emergency communications, including indoor location accuracy. We are pleased that this testing infrastructure is helping evaluate whether new communications technologies will improve 9-1-1 location accuracy and help first responders and consumers.”

The Test Bed is managed by The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS), which brings together the top global ICT companies to advance the industry’s most critical business priorities.

“Providing the solutions needed to improve the location accuracy for wireless 9-1-1 calls is an ATIS priority,” said ATIS President and CEO Susan Miller. “As Test Bed Manager, we are excited to see our work put into action through the Test Bed at the production-ready stage. The Stage 3 testing continues the critical evaluation of technologies that advance emergency services location accuracy to deliver lifesaving results.”

CTIA® (www.ctia.org) represents the U.S. wireless communications industry and the companies throughout the mobile ecosystem that enable Americans to lead a 21st century connected life. The association’s members include wireless carriers, device manufacturers, suppliers as well as apps and content companies. CTIA vigorously advocates at all levels of government for policies that foster continued wireless innovation and investment. The association also coordinates the industry’s voluntary best practices, hosts educational events that promote the wireless industry and co-produces the industry’s leading wireless tradeshow. CTIA was founded in 1984 and is based in Washington, D.C.